NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

White Wild Duck.

A pure white wild duck, which has, for many years, been a well-known inhabitant of the private lake and sanctuary on the property of Mr. W. Langdon, Valetta, in the Ashburton County, was shot at the end of the shooting season, states the "Press." The duck is being sent to Christchurch where, it is understood, it will be mounted. Nassella Tussock Survey. As promised by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Barclay), two officers have now commenced a survey of the nassella tussock-infested areas in North Canterbury, states the Christchurch "Star-Sun." A few days were spent by the officers in the field with Dr. H. H. Allan, director of the botany division, who is in charge of the survey. The areas immediately round Waipara and Mount Cass were then examined The whole area has been divided into blocks, which will be systematically surveyed. Special attention will be paid to an accurate determination of the boundaries of the more badly affected areas and to problems that will, have to be considered in afforestation schemes. Insurance of School Buildings. Thi Wellington Education Board had before it yesterday advice from the Education Department that the Government, was net prepared to accept responsibility for the replacement of gymnasia, assembly halls, and special equipment which might be destroyed by fire through their use by ti_e Home Guard or for the raising of funds for patriotic purposes. The Department recommended that where insurance was effected outside the State Fire Insurance Office or outside the membership of the Council of the Fire and Accident. Underwriters' Association, school committees should obtain an assurance that the insurance would not be- prejudiced by the use of the buildings and' equipment for Home Guard and other patriotic purposes. The State Fire Insurance Office and the Underwriters' Association had already given that assurance. Oyster Season Prospects. Between 5300 and 5400 sacks of oysters are expected to be marketed in Auckland during the season opening on May 29. This quantity is in the vicinity of 400 sacks less than last season. The reduction was decided upon after a survey in the Hauraki Gulf, where it was found that although the supply is bountiful, an unusually high proportion of young oysters would have been destroyed m removing the mature ones from the rocks. The position will be normal again next season. It is not intended to take the usual supplies for the market from Whangaroa in the coming season as the beds have suffered a good deal from poaching. • The Wrong Trees. The clothing of the bare hills around Wellington was referred to by Mr. R. L. Andrew last night, when he was addressing members of the technological section of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society. No other city in the Dominion, he said, stood to gain so much by this afforestation which was started about thirty years ago. "But it is evident that an altogether wrong approach has been made," he continued. "The two main considerations are that the cover should have the lowest possible fire risk .and that it should be beautiful. Neither end, however, is attained by our present policy, simply through the plantings being mainly pines planted for commercial use. Plantings of our common and hardy natives would have been a much better proposition." Dictator Wanted. "In Rome Mussolini has shown what can be attained by clearing the approaches to monumental buildings. It is a pity that we cannot tame a real live dictator and employ him in planning and improving our cities. It would be less costly than allowing him to plunge the world into war," remarked Mr. R. L. Andrew during the course of an address last night to the technological section of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society. Mr. Andrew was referring to several of Wellington's more prominent buildings, how they had either been placed in the ,wrong place or were spoilt by^ the approaches. The lack of open spaces round the pi'incipal blocks militated against the buildings being seen to advantage. The objection was made that the land was too valuable, but that clearly ignored the fact that that was just where open spaces were required. Where land was not valuable it was already open space. £8000 For E.P.S. Expenses. Local bodies in the Christchurch metropolitan area are to be asked to contribute a total of £8000 for the preliminary expense of putting the Christchurch Emergency Precautions Scheme into operation, states the "Star-Sun." This decision has been made •by the committee of controllers of the various sections of the scheme and representatives of local bodies. The committee will recommend to the various local bodies that the sum of £8000 be contributed on the basis of the mean between the capital value and the population of each district. This is the basis decided upon for the allocation of costs for the emergency fire-fighting equipment, and will mean that the Christchurch City Council will provide the greater part of the money. The provision of this money will enable the first important implementation of the scheme in directions other than that of emergency fire protection, said the secretary, Mr. H. S. Feast, yesterday. The development of the scheme had been hindered by lack of finance, and so far all that had been done, with the exception v.f emergency fire protection and the issue of booklets to householders, had been financed by the Christchurch City Council.